Transparency is key to eliminating corruption: U.S. prosecutor
Transparency is key to eliminating corruption: U.S. prosecutor
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Transparency and openness are the two keys to eradicate corrupt
practices in government offices, visiting United States Federal
Prosecutor Patrick Donley says.
"Corruption is a serious problem in our country, we can reduce
or eliminate it by making the government more transparent and
more open to the people," Donley said on Friday.
Speaking after the closing ceremony of a three-day training
for Indonesian prosecutors, he said that public participation was
vital in reducing corruption.
He also said that Indonesia was on the right track in
combating the crime, but the legal apparatus had much to learn
about the new anticorruption regulations.
"I think one of the biggest problems is the newness of some of
the laws," Donley said.
"They don't have the experience using these laws to bring
politicians and corrupt government officials before the judges.
That will come with time," he added.
Donley also praised the establishment of an anticorruption
commission in Indonesia, saying that such a commission would be a
milestone in the fight against graft here.
Donley, along with U.S. public defenders John Chamble and
Andrew Mohring and paralegal Sumi Nakashi were in the country to
give a seminar on criminal fraud and corruption.
The three-day seminar, funded by the U.S. government, was
attended by prosecutors from the Attorney General's Office and
several officials from the National Police.
At the closing ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L.
Boyce said that the success of anticorruption efforts required
unwavering commitment on the part of the government as well as
support and confidence of the people.
"The great challenge facing each of the legal apparatus is to
meet the expectations of the Indonesian people and to gain their
trust and confidence," Boyce said.
He stressed that without the confidence of the people, the
vigilante would continue, as the rule of law was the only thing
that stands between order and anarchy.
"To maintain order and ensure justice in a democracy, justice
sector institutions must perform in a transparent manner so as to
garner the public's trust," the ambassador said.
According to a recent report from International Transparency,
Indonesia ranks as the 10th most corrupt country in the world,
with Kenya in 9th place and the most corrupt nation cited as
Bangladesh.
The country is currently waiting for the establishment of the
anticorruption commission, which will have the authority to
investigate and prosecute graft offenders.
Boyce said that corruption should be stopped as it scared off
foreign investors and had wide implications both socially and
economically.